ERIC Number: EJ872507
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Feb
Pages: 6
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0140-1971
EISSN: N/A
Brief Report: Predictors of Heavy Internet Use and Associations with Health-Promoting and Health Risk Behaviors among Hong Kong University Students
Kim, Jean H.; Lau, C. H.; Cheuk, Ka-Kin; Kan, Pauline; Hui, Heidi L. C.; Griffiths, Sian M.
Journal of Adolescence, v33 n1 p215-220 Feb 2010
To examine the correlates of heavy Internet use and determine the associations of heavy Internet use with various health risk behaviors and health-promoting behaviors among Chinese adolescents, an anonymous, self-administered health behavior questionnaire was completed by 2427 matriculants into a Hong Kong university (mean age = 18.9 y) and returned at compulsory health examination. Of students, 14.8% reported heavy Internet use (greater than 4 h/day) and such use was associated with lower likelihood of engaging in health-promoting activities such as exercising and seeking medical care. At the same time, heavy Internet use was correlated with multiple risk behaviors such as skipping meals and sleeping late as well as poorer health outcomes such as higher likelihood of being overweight or having hypersomnia. Given the double burden of poorer health outcomes and fewer health-promoting behaviors, heavy Internet users represent a particularly challenging group for adolescent health promotion. (Contains 2 tables.)
Descriptors: Health Promotion, Health Behavior, Foreign Countries, Computers, Internet, At Risk Persons, Student Behavior, College Students, Questionnaires, Exercise, Eating Habits, Obesity, Sleep, Health Services
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Hong Kong
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A